Weld chrome bumper?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 574
From: Wisconsin
Weld chrome bumper?
Looking ahead to my ‘71 resto, I’d like to fix that annoying bulge at the center of my front bumper by slicing a thin pie shape from it and bumping it flat and welding it closed.
Question is, can that bumper material be welded?
Question is, can that bumper material be welded?
Popular Reply
Jul 18, 2023, 11:55 PM
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,366
Likes: 6,348
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Yes, it can be welded. No problem. It's plain mild steel. After welding, it will require a significant amount of metalworking to prepare it for re-chroming. You will have a lot more time and money wrapped up in it than the cost of a new re-pop bumper (only $500). You're not reworking and re-chroming that bumper for less than that. Do you know how many places there are left in the U.S. that still do quality chrome work..? Thank your liberal-*** green government. If cost is no object and all you want is a nice, perfectly-formed bumper without the normal "bulge" in the middle, slice it, weld it, and do the metalwork. Send it out for chroming. It will look fantastic. With your labor and the chrome work, I'll bet you'll have over $2K in it. But it will look very nice.
Lars
Lars
Last edited by lars; Jul 18, 2023 at 12:38 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,366
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Anyone capable and qualified to do a proper weld joint knows that the weld joint must be properly prepped, which includes the removal of all plating and coatings in the weld area and heat affected zone. That's normal, required welding practice for any welded joint. Additionally, a qualified welder also knows to avoid and mitigate inhalation of the fumes coming off the parent material and filler materials when welding certain material types and using certain alloy fillers, as they often contain hexavalent chromium, regardless of the plating on the parent material.
Welding is a special process than can be hazardous. Bottom line is the same as with anything else: If you're not qualified to do it, don't do it...
Lars
Former AWS & ASME Welding Certifier
Welding is a special process than can be hazardous. Bottom line is the same as with anything else: If you're not qualified to do it, don't do it...
Lars
Former AWS & ASME Welding Certifier
Last edited by lars; Jul 18, 2023 at 11:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 574
From: Wisconsin
No worries guys, I’ve been a Mechanical Engineer for 32 years, a lot of it in metal fabrication. I know my way around a welder. I just wasn’t sure what the bumper material was. It almost has a cast look to it, but I didn’t think factories were using thin castings back then.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,366
Likes: 6,348
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
No, it's just plain stamped mild steel. If you're a mechanical engineer, it's P1 Group 1 for welding. For GTAW (DC Straight), use E70 filler (SFA 5.18) with Argon shielding. If you put a little pre-heat into it it will flow real nice.
The stamping process is why the bumper has that annoying bulge right at the tip of the "V", because the stamped steel has noplace to go when formed at that angle.
Lars
The stamping process is why the bumper has that annoying bulge right at the tip of the "V", because the stamped steel has noplace to go when formed at that angle.
Lars
Highway Man
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 445
Likes: 188
From: Ca
I’m contemplating doing the same thing.
The factory bumper fits so much nicer than the repops that I’ve seen with the end tips bent out.
I’ve spun a nut on the one mount so while welding that I was going to cut and flatten the centre.
I was actually thinking of a chrome alternative like chrome paint. With the byproducts of the chrome process killing the planet, it’s good to see it going away.
Cheers,
Richard
The factory bumper fits so much nicer than the repops that I’ve seen with the end tips bent out.
I’ve spun a nut on the one mount so while welding that I was going to cut and flatten the centre.
I was actually thinking of a chrome alternative like chrome paint. With the byproducts of the chrome process killing the planet, it’s good to see it going away.
Cheers,
Richard
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,366
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,212
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From: Orange County Ca
I did this 20yrs+ ago when chrome shops were numerous and cheap. But, when they "streightened" it, the bump came back. Many, many c3's have this. Factory original????
I wouldn't do it again, too many other things to fix on my car.
I wouldn't do it again, too many other things to fix on my car.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
When I bought my '72, it had a repro bumper on it, and after someone backed into it, the replacement was the same, damnit....the main part fits fine, about 1/2 inch from the plastic all across the front, BUT the ends are over an inch.....near 1.5 inches from the body....both sides, so the question is WHY?? can't the repro guys stamp the thing correctly??
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 574
From: Wisconsin
When I bought my '72, it had a repro bumper on it, and after someone backed into it, the replacement was the same, damnit....the main part fits fine, about 1/2 inch from the plastic all across the front, BUT the ends are over an inch.....near 1.5 inches from the body....both sides, so the question is WHY?? can't the repro guys stamp the thing correctly??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 574
From: Wisconsin
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2019
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From: MA/NH Seacoast